MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Serena Williams recovered from a nasty fall and painful ankle injury to blast her way into the second round of the Australian Open on Tuesday with a 6-0 6-0 victory over Romania's Edina Gallovits-Hall.

The world number three, leading 4-0 in the first set, slipped on the Hisense Arena surface then turned her right ankle and lay motionless on the bright blue court before sitting up when medical attention arrived.

The reigning Wimbledon and U.S. Open champion received treatment courtside, which included having her ankle restrapped, and returned eight minutes later.

The 31-year-old appeared to be favouring her ankle and grimaced from time to time, but had obviously decided to limit her movement and blasted winners seemingly at will in order to get off court as quickly as possible. (Reporting by Greg Stutchbury; Editing by Patrick Johnston)